Doll walker



Jan. 21, 1958 M. w. EdHELMEIER DOLL WALKER Filed Aug. 20. 1956 a2 soiNVENTOR, Mafl'laa- W Echelme/ett BY K4 Af/ornsy United States PatentDOLL WALKER Matilda W. Echelmeier, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 20, 1956, Serial No. 604,975

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-106) My invention relates to doll walkers, and it hasfor a purpose the provision of a doll walker which is characterized by awheeled platform, and an upright fixed on the platform and having meansfor securing the doll in upright position thereon so that by graspingthe hand of the doll a child can pull the walker to simulate walking ofthe doll, or turn the walker to simulate dancing movements of the doll,all to the end of aifording entertainment for the child.

The present application is a continuation in part of my applicationSerial No. 463,997, filed October 22, 1954, now abandoned.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a doll Walker in whichit is so constructed and the doll so secured thereon as to prevent thetwo from tipping forwardly during pulling of the doll by a child whenwalking, or to prevent the two from tipping sidewise when the child isperforming dancing movements with the doll.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a doll walkerwhich is adaptable for use with dolls, or other stuffed toys, of varyingheights, and which also can be used as a display stand for either.

I will describe only one form of doll walker embodying my invention, andwill then point out the novel features thereof in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view showing in front elevation one form of doll walkerinvolving my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View showing the doll walker in side elevation, andillustrating a doll in phantom lines on the walker.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my invention in its presentembodiment comprises a base or platform generally designated at B, whichmay be made up of an intermediate plate 15, an upper plate 16 secured tothe upper side of the intermediate plate, and a lower plate 17 securedto the lower side of the intermediate plate.

The intermediate plate 15 is preferably constructed of lead of athickness to give it the requisite weight necessary to achieve thefunction for which it is intended. This plate also may be made oflaminations of sheets of steel welded one to the other, and insufiicient number to give it the necessary weight. The upper plate 16,which is made of steel or other suitable metal, is of an areasubstantially the same as that of the plate 15, and it is securedthereto by suitable fastening members 18 in the form of screws orrivets.

The lower plate 17 is likewise made of steel or other suitable metal,and has its rear portion secured by fastening members 19, such as screwsor rivets, to the underside of the forward portion of the plate 15. Theforward plate portion of the plate 17 projects from the plate 15 and isshaped to provide two members 20 which di- 2,820,324 Patented Jan. 21,1958 verge one from the other and from the forward end of the plate 15.

To support the platform B for rolling movement, as well as to renderthe. walker readily steerable, a pair of caster wheels 21 are mounted onthe underside of the members 20 with their vertical axes at the freeextremities of such members. Also, a pair of wheels 22 support the rearend of the platform, and these are journalled on the ends of an axle 23carried in a sleeve 24 Which is a part of a hanger or bracket 25.

The hanger 25 is formed from a metal plate bent upon itself mediallythereof to form the sleeve 24, while the parallel portions of the plateare secured to each other by a fastening member 26. Such parallelportions are, at their free marginal ends, bent at right angles to formflanges 27 which are secured to the underside of the plate 15 byfastening members 28, such as screws or rivets. a

It is important to note that the axle 23 is of such length that the rearwheels 22 are spaced from each other a distance less than the spacing ofthe front caster wheels 21, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

A rubber bumper strip 29 is secured to the side and front edges of theplate 17, so as to prevent marring of furniture or other objects whichthe walker may strike during use thereof.

An upright R is fixed in vertical position on the top side of the topplate 16 at the rear edge thereof and medially of the ends of such edgeso as to be positioned midway between the rear wheels 22. This uprightcomprises a lower section 30, and an upper section 31 which telescopesin the lower section so that the overall length of the upright can bevaried to hold dolls, or other stufi'ed toys, of various heights inupright position thereon. The upper section 31 is securable in anyposition of adjustment lengthwise in the lower section by a set screw 32screw threaded in the upper section to engage the lower section at anypoint along its length.

Both sections of the upright R are constructed from strips of sheetmetal each bent upon itself to form a fiat tube which is open at oneside thereof. As the two sections are assembled the open side of thelower section faces to the rear of the platform, while the open side ofthe upper section faces the forward end of the plat form. Such opensides accommodate the set screw 32 so that it may function to secure theupper section in any extended position with respect to the lowersection.

The lower upright section 30 is fixedly secured to the upper plate 16 bywelding its lower end to the plate and to the rear vertical edge of agusset 33. This gusset, in turn, is Welded in vertical position on theplate 16.

Adjacent the upper end of the upper section 30 a bracket 34 is securedto the rear side thereof, and it is through this bracket that a scarf 35can be extended. An elastic belt 36 is secured at its medial portion tothe rear side of the upper section 30 by means of a pair of rivets 37and at a point just below the bracket 32. An endless elastic belt 38 istrained about the lower end of the upright R and the gusset 33.

In the use of the walker, a doll, or other toy, is secured in uprightposition on the platform B as illustrated in phantom lines in Fig. 3,the feet of the doll being held on the platform on opposite sides of thegusset 33 by the band 38. The body of the doll is secured to the uprightby the belt 36 which is extended under the dolls clothing to conceal it.The dolls head is secured to the upright by extending and tying thescarf 35 about the neck of the doll. Thus the doll is firmly securedvertically to the upright with its arms left free.

By grasping either hand of the doll, a child can pull the doll forwardlycausing the walker to roll forwardly on the wheels 21 and 22, andthereby simulating walkingot the 'doll. The caster wheels '21 affordready steering of the walker as it is pulled so that it will follow thewalking movements of the child.

Because the platform B is weighted as it is by the plate 15, the uprightat the rear portion thereof, and the caster wheels mounted forwardly ofsuch plate in divergent relation thereto and spaced from each other agreater distance than from the rear wheels, sufiicient stability isgiven to the walker to prevent it from overturning or even tilting underany pulling force exerted by the child on an arm of the doll, eitherforwardly in walking it, or sidewise when turning it in dancingtherewith.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of doll walkerembodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention and .the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What, I claim is:

A doll walker, including: a base comprising an intermediate plate ofrelatively heavy metal, an upper plate secured to the upper side of theintermediate plate, and a lower plate secured to the lower side of theintermediate plate and projecting forwardly therefrom; a hanger bearingbracket secured to and extending transversely of the lower side of theintermediate plate at the rear portion thereof; an axle journalled insaid bracket; rear wheels on the ends of the axle; a pair of frontcaster wheels mounted on the underside of the lower plate where itprojects forwardly from the intermediate plate; an upright secured onthe rear portion of the upper plate at a point midway between the rearwheels; and means on the upright for securing a doll in upright positionthereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS220,606 Goye Oct. 14, 1879 569,333 Hinckley Oct. 13, 1896 1,339,109Irrgang May 4, 1920 2,465,301 Warner Mar. 22, 1949

